That is a nice tattoo! Simple and evocative.

I will say this: the maternity leave policy at our school may suck, but their retirement plan is pretty great. They invest 10% of our salary in a TIAA-CREF 403(b) every year - no contribution from our end required; essentially it's a 10% retirement bonus.

I never said Congratulations Jon B! and I totally should. Babies are great, even if they are hard to have financially.

Simple and evocative.

Exactly what I was going for, thanks.

I plan the hell out of these things and think it half to death before doing it. I sharpied the figure on my wrist about a month ago to see if I was serious. When Bartleby and I went to the photo studio, I scrubbed it off so as not to have a pro portrait made with a homemade tattoo.

I really missed the graphic on that day, so I knew then that it is right for me.

Congrats to the FAQFamily!

Aaron Wolf, welcome to the world. You hit the jackpot by choosing these parents!

Love the tattoo, bonny! And Bartleby is so stinkin' cute I can't deal.

Nodding and pointing about all the health insurance stuff. I truly believe that lack of universal healthcare is the biggest barrier to entrepreneurship in this country. Also, most bankruptcies are due to medical expenses, and it's not just the uninsured going under - [link]

Also, in "dem kittens is crazeh" news, one of them tried to get in the oven. While it was ON. Repeatedly. IDEK.

I got 12 weeks of maternity leave, 4 weeks paid 100%, the remaining paid at 55% of my salary, thanks to the Paid FMLA in California and the awesome maternity policy and disability my company had. Now? I would get 12 weeks unpaid b/c of FMLA, but hey. Not like I'm having any more babies so there's that.

There are people who don't dare leave jobs they hate because they can't get health insurance otherwise.

I don't hate my job in the least, but despite bringing home less than $10k/year, I can not leave my insurance plan. So, almost same difference.

love the portrait of Bartleby, and damn but you're beautiful, bonny.

Seriously, on both. bonny, your eyes in particular are stunning. And Bartleby is so handsome and smart-looking.

I would get 4-6 weeks paid maternity (not sure which) and can take longer unpaid before I would lose my benefits. I’ve never looked into it, but since most of the female faculty have had babies in the last five years, I should probably ask one of them. I am mildly curious.

ETA: Lovely tat! Lovely lady! Cutie-face dog!

I am packed, and have decided on costume for Saturday.

The black velvet skirt Jilli sent with the pink striped cincher looked much more streamlined with the tight, off the shoulder black velvet top I am wearing under the cincher, although I love my ballgown skirt. K and I agreed it was more aesthetically pleasing, and the pink looks better on me the than the red. I am EXTREMELY boobtastic in the cincher! I haven't aired the girls out this much in a looooong time.

I will have neon pink fishnets, but warm socks and my Frye boot knock-offs: it'll be a cold night, I'll be walking and standing and dancing till all hours.

My hair is very red; I will have eye makeup that will match the color of the peacock ornament in my hair, and lots and lots of iridescent glitter and peacock colored facial jewels.

I'll be wearing smonster's necklace, and either a pair of large green chandelier earrings or the black ones smonster sent; I suspect I'll make up my mind after my make-up and hair are done.

It'll be cold, but I'm taking my great-aunt's cream tweed cape from the 60's, and a pink pashmina and cream chamois opera gloves I've had for 16 years and worn once.

Erin, dressed by Buffistas. I feel very Cupcake Goth inspired, with the black and the pink!

It should be FUN, and the friend we're staying with is a philosophy professor and has wifi, so I should be able to work on some things Friday, and post pix!

I'm very excited! The day ran away from me.

bonny, did I tell you I loved the tat? I can't remember, and am frazzled.

ChiKat, the black and red corset is gorgeous, and it suits K.'s outfit and figure admirably -- she HAD to try it on. Is it all right if she wears it? It will return in pristine condition! K doesn't drink, and she's very conscientious. I would wear both corsets if I could!

Australia just started offering paid parental leave this year, up to 18 weeks at the minimum wage.

Nodding and pointing about all the health insurance stuff. I truly believe that lack of universal healthcare is the biggest barrier to entrepreneurship in this country.

I agree completely. Seriously, I had decent health coverage when I was in the US, and the amount of crap I had to deal with just on the administrative side was ridiculous. (My personal peeve: how the hell can you be covered for seeing only some medical practitioners?)